A Vaguely Festive Article

Ugh. Normally I’m someone who loves the festive break. It’s always so much fun. The family gets together. We have presents. Tons of food is made and then eaten. It’s the festive season, that one chance to actually unwind for a bit and, hopefully, have plenty of time off work. No work, combined with gifts and good food, a pretty good combination for most people. Even if you’re not religious, there’s at least something to enjoy.

Well, aside from Christmas music on loop in stores. I’m all for Christmas spirit, but I want to murder people after the first time hearing “All I want for Christmas is you.” I can’t imagine how the poor folks who have to listen to that shit all day long must feel.

This year though feels very different.

2020 has been a very chaotic year. A lot has gone on, way too much to really summarize in a short, rambling article.

Actually, I say that, 2020 hasn’t been any more chaotic than other years. The difference is that all the chaos has been out in the open, for all of us to see. Crazy, chaotic stuff happens literally all the time. People have been going to war and fighting and arguing since we learned language. Really, it’s not that it’s all out in the open, it’s just that everyone has cameras at the ready, and everyone is willing to spew their opinions over social media. And because cameras and internet connections are so much more accessible now, it’s so much easier to spread news around. It’s also much easier to spread lies, propaganda and falsehoods around as well.

Not to mention we’ve spent most of 2020 inside.

Well, some people have. Reasonable people have restricted going out and have been wearing masks. The whole pandemic has been the icing on the trash heap we called 2020. A lot of people have lost their jobs, their incomes and even their health and loved ones due to a stupid pandemic that just hasn’t been contained. While, yes, everyone staying indoors and locked down wouldn’t have made the virus go away, but it would have slowed down the virus’s spread. And sure, masks are a bit annoying and tedious, but better safe than sorry, right?

Guess not. Being a high-risk person myself, I’ve definitely spent a lot of time at home, not going outside. However I’m beginning to think that the entire month and a bit I spent inside my apartment has been pretty bad for my mental health. So I’ve had to throw in some walks alone in there. So I don’t go crazy. Uh, crazier.

At least some of us have some time off.

I’ve been desperately in need of a break for the whole year. Preferably not a break because of terrible circumstances. Aside from writing articles, I’m going to spend this Christmas just sitting around, chilling out and eating food. Honestly, I don’t even really care what food. Just anything to take my mind off things. If I could just turn off my brain for a few days, that would be great.

Really, I want to care about Christmas and get into the holiday spirit, but it all feels rather hollow when you can’t have everyone around and we’re all supposed to be social-distancing. I’m going to try and relax. No promises though. And most likely a handful of tears as we remember those we’ve lost.

As for the rest of you, I hope you all have, at the very least, some time to yourselves. If you’re celebrating Christmas, then Merry Christmas to you. Whatever it is you’re celebrating, I hope you have a great time. Happy holidays, happy Smissmas, happy Tennobaum, happy Macromera, happy everything.